Blended Voices: Cultural Integration Using Technology Presenters: Professors Audrey Rogers and Lyra Riabov Southern New Hampshire University Presentation at New Hampshire Society for Technology in Education (NHSTE) April 11, 2013

Presentation Overview  Project: Combined Classes and their goals  Models and structure of the project  Technology for achieving the goals  Students’ produced podcasts  Students’ reflection podcasts  The website of the project The website of the project

Project  Bring students of diverse backgrounds together  Discover ways that technology can facilitate cultural collaboration between students  Explore strategies to help English Language Learners practice and learn English, as well as American culture  Learn about the impact that cultural integration can have on domestic students

Project Goals  To make connections between Undergraduate Day students and international students through discovering similarities and differences  To learn about the cultures and daily experiences of the international students – at their home countries and here at SNHU  Help ESL students practice and learn English, as well as American culture  To learn how available technology can facilitate exchanges and connections between students.

Making Connections  Students discover similarities & differences  Students listen and learn about other cultures  Technology facilitates exchanges and connections between students.

The Role of Technology Combined classes are project – based and involve students’ active research, interviews and use of technology: the Internet, , MS Word, the Blackboard Discussion Forum, creation of podcasts in iTunes, PowerPoint, Prezi, ePortfolio, audio recording using Audacity, photo camera and Google Earth The results and feedback from both groups of students are impressive. See the website for the American and international students’ project assignments, the PowerPoint slides of their presentations, as well as their videos, pictures, and podcaststhe website 6

Understanding Podcasts  A Podcast is…an audio or video recording that is broadcast  Able to Subscribe and download programs to computer, MP3, iPod  Viewed whenever, wherever: Program On Demand

Students are Podcasting  To discover the content  To become highly engaged in the learning  To connect with others  To publish their work

Questions To Ask  Is it right for my course/content?  Will it engage and teach my students?  What are my school’s privacy rules?  Do I have technical support?  What is the feasibility and long term sustainability?

Structure = Success  Decide on content goals.  Choose a framework for engaging students.  Podcasts = group goal  Podcasts = reflection tool

Step 1: Decide on content  Divide the content into “chunks” Step 2: Pair up students  Students research and write the script Step 3: Practice/rehearse.  Natural flow with confidence and enthusiasm. Project Template

Template con’t Step 4: Record the podcast.  Use software that generates an MP3 audio file such as Audacity. Listen and retake as necessary. Step 5: Publish the podcast.  Allow people to subscribe.  Follow school’s privacy guidelines.

Template con’t Step 6: Promote the podcast.  Encourage school personnel, students and their families to subscribe. Step 7: Reflect!  Have students express what they learned; and evaluate the experience making any changes for next time.

Podcasting in the Classroom: Our Story  Education Students and International Students combine classes Model 1: 1 session Model 2: 2 sessions Model 3: 3 sessions [see handout for full description]

Student Podcasts 15 PodcastsReflections Website of the Project JuliaJulia Stephaney BonnieStephaneyBonnie JuliaJulia Stephaney Jing Sophia LangzhuStephaneyJingSophia Langzhu

Benefits  The above models offer an opportunity for the domestic students to have a first hand experience of learning world cultures  and ESL students to learn about American culture, practice English and make friends with American students.  This project also helps domestic and international students to broaden their world cultural experience by using an abundant resource right on campus.  Students learn how to use current technologies.

Limitations  Some students need more time to make an authentic connection.  Technology does not always cooperate.  There is planning and preparation between departments.

iTunesU  Publish the podcasts and share with a larger community  iTunesU:  ESL Students' Podcasts in iTunes 2009 ESL Students' Podcasts in iTunes 2009  ESL Students' Podcasts in iTunes 2010 ESL Students' Podcasts in iTunes 2010  EDU 235 Podcasts in iTunes 2009 EDU 235 Podcasts in iTunes 2009  EDU 235 Podcasts in iTunes 2010 EDU 235 Podcasts in iTunes 2010  Project Website Project Website

Resources  Rogers, Audrey and Riabov, Lyra. (April 2011) “Cultural Integration in Action: Two Faculty Members’ Perspectives” InSight: Rivier Academic Journal, Vol.7, No.1, April Retrieved April 26, 2011, from      Lyra Riabov’s“Combined Classes” Website:   Lyra Riabov’s ESL Culture Studies Website:  This Presentation Handout and PowerPoint slides: